FOUND IN THEATRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

FOUND IN THEATRES.

ALL SORTS OF QUEER THINGS.

SNAKE AND. A COCKED HAT.

I ABSENT-MINDED BEGGARS. | (By HORACE WYNDHAM.) "Some people," once observed a wellknown manager, "would leave their heads behind them when they go to the theatre if they weren't screwed on too tightly!" This opinion 13 not far-fetclied, as theatregoers are a very forgetful and absent-minded body. At any rate, all sorts of queer things are left behind after a performance. The list of articles includes not only gloves, muffs, wraps, umbrellas, sticks and opera glasses, but even such purely personal belongings as false teeth and corsets.

A specially curious article once picked up in a London gallery was a sword. When inquiries were made it was found to belong to a soldier. He had put it under a seat, and then forgotten all about it. On another occasion a bulky package was discovered in the dress circle. When opened this was found to contain the manuscript of a novel and a huge tin of dog biscuits. Possibly during the intervals of composition and watching the play, the author had been refreshing himself with the nourishment he had purchased f x a domestic pet at home. ,

While it is easy enough to understand goloshes being left behind, a pair of india-rubber fishing boots ia another thing altogether. Yet a pair of such articles reaching half-way up a man's leg, have more than once been found after a performance. • What, too, can be thought of a person who brings a gold-laced cocked hat to the theatre and then forgets all about it T Yet this elaborate form of head-dress was picked up in a West End house after a recent "command performance."

Great Snakes! Even animals have been discovered in a theatre when the audience has gone home. A somewhat unwelcome "find" of this sort occurred the other day. While the manager was wandering through the stalls he noticed a rush basket on the floor. Stooping down to examine it, his attention was attracted by a curious hissing noise. Thereupon, he sent for the foreman, who hurried to the scene with an axe and a pail of water. The precaution was a necessary one, for, on the lid being removed, a six-foot cobra promptly put out its head. Another place where articles of value are often found is tin cloak-room. Absent-minded members of the audience frequently abandon overcoats and goloshes. It would appear that when they leave these items in the cloak-room they alao leave their memories along with them. ' At any rate almost every month the attendants report coats and wraps and umbrellas, etc., as being without owners. After evety performance a little bodv of programme attendants, commission aires, and cleaners carefully inspect the stalls, dress circle, boxes, pit, and gallery, and gather up any little trifle the} may discover there. Sometimes articles of considerable value are found, audi as pieces of jewellery and purses; but

more often the "treasure trove" is. limited to gloves, fans, opera glasses and cigarette cases, etc. Still, whatever may be picked up under the seats and in the gangways and passages,, it- is brought to the manager's office.

Among the furniture of every mu ager'a private office is a big cupboard for the special reception of property thus found in the theatre. The cupboard is divided into pigeon-holes, in which the different articles are deposited. When anything is brought to him the manager attaches a label to it, giving particulars of the finder's name and the date. Similar particulars are also entered in a "lost property book.*' Then should, as often happens, a member of the audience come alqng the next morning to inquire if something he left behind has been found, the manager first consults this volume.

"You lost a pair of mother-of-pearl opera glasses in the fifth row of the dress circle at yesterday's matinee," he says. "Can you give a description of them ?" The visitor does so. If it coincides with the entry in the book, the managed unlocks the cupboard and produces the missing property.' "Here you are," he says, "they were found by Mary Smith, a programme seller. Allow me to return them." Thereupon the visitor is sb delighted that he promptly purchases another seat, and also leaves half a crown for Mary Smith. With reference to this matter no fee can be "charged for restoring lost property belonging, to members of the audience,' but only, a curmudgeon would refuse to recognise the attendant's honesty. On .one occasion a programme seller picked up a packet of letters, which the loser valued so highly. he presented her with a £5 note. Sncn liberal recognition} however,.doe* n ofttn occur,